Top 10: Overpaid Premier League transfers

The Premier League was up and running in 1992 when Teddy Sheringham was top-scorer, Eric Cantona was still running riot, Arsene Wenger was managing AS Monaco, Jack Wilshere was just born and Home Alone 2 had just been released. Now you feel old.....

In this time we have seen some incredible transfer fees and have seen them rocket up from £500,000 to £80million in just 21 seasons.

People might say that Cristiano Ronaldo has proven why Real Madrid paid what they did, but they still gave Manchester United £80million for one man. Was it really worth it?

A talented player that was signed to replace Nigel De Jong after the Dutchman was shipped off to Milan. The 26-year old hasn't proven his worth and after offloading De Jong for just £3.5million, £16million seems like a lot. Despite this, he has managed to get himself on the scoresheet a few times.

9. Christopher Samba: Anzhi Makhachkala to QPR

After the appointment of Harry Redknapp, big names were coming in including Loic Remy and Samba himself. Samba was a big name at Blackburn and Arsenal had him on their radar but the big man chose Russia.

QPR signed him in January for £12.5million and sold him back to Anzhi for just £500,000 less at a fee of £12million. The defender made no impact and QPR were relegated, but much to the anger of QPR fans, he hasn't stayed to help them climb back up.

8. Andrei Arshavin: Zenit St. Petersburg to Arsenal

Arshavin was the big, record-breaking signing for Arsenal in January 2009, after a drawn out process that wasn't finalised until the transfer window had closed, due to the snowy conditions in England at that time, nothing Arshavin wasn't used to.

He made an immediate impact scoring goals freely, including four goals in an exciting 4-4 contest between the Gunners and Liverpool. But, that form faded away until he was sitting at the sidelines. He has now returned to play for Zenit in his home country, Russia.

7. Stewart Downing: Aston Villa to Liverpool

This is the first of three signings from Kenny Dalglish's signing spree in 2011. Liverpool signed Downing from Villa in the summer of 2011 for a mighty fee of £20million, which could of been invested in a much better player. Although, he has improved in recent months and could still show that he is worth his price tag.

6. Jordan Henderson: Sunderland to Liverpool

Kenny Dalglish brought in the young Englishman after a successful season at Sunderland for £20million. Henderson's story is similar to Stewart Downing's; poor start, but beginning to show his worth.

5. Juan Sebastian Veron: Lazio to Manchester United

Probably the worst signing Sir Alex Ferguson made at Manchester United. Veron was signed back in 2001 for £28million, which at that time was groundbreaking. Veron was offloaded to rivals, Chelsea for just £14million after a few poor seasons.

4. Dimitar Berbatov: Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester United

Dimitar Berbatov was in the form of his life before he sealed a £30million move to Manchester United back in 2008, but never really lived up to his price tag and you could argue he would have scored more and perhaps had a more successful career if he had stayed at White Hart Lane. Berbatov was sold to Fulham last season for just £3million.

3. Andriy Shevchenko: AC Milan to Chelsea

Arguably one of the best strikers in the world at the time of his move, but was absolutely shocking in the Premier League after his £30million move to Chelsea. There's no way to put it lightly. One of the worst signings in history.

2. Fernando Torres: Liverpool to Chelsea

What can we say about this man....Fernando Torres had a great time at Liverpool but evidently ruined that by moving to Chelsea for the highest transfer fee you will see in this list, £50million in 2011.

But it's okay! Liverpool didn't do so well themselves, using that money to by two men in this list, including number one. He went from being booed by the Chelsea fans after an open goal miss against the current champions United, to an orgasmic shriek from Gary Neville after securing Chelsea' place in the Champions League final by eliminating favourites, Barcelona.

They would of course go on to win the Champions League after defeating Bayern Munich at their home ground, the Allianz Arena. He had his second-best season in football last term but it still isn't enough to convince anyone that he's worth £50million.

1. Andy Carroll: Newcastle to Liverpool

Many people would swap one and two in this list but for me Torres has had more value for money. I chose the third and final Liverpool signing from Kenny Dalglish's ill-fated second tenure in this list, and by far the worst.

The young English striker was unestablished and had only just found form when the astonishing deal went through in 2011. The whole world was shocked by that price, and to think Sergio Aguero signed for Manchester City for just an extra £3million! Andy Carroll played one-and-a-half years at Liverpool before spending last season on loan at West Ham before completing a permanent move their this summer for a cut-price £15million.

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DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

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